Tag: LG

Samsung probably announced the best Android smartphone of 2012 – the Galaxy S III – a couple of days ago. Not to be outdone by Samsung, LG announced the Optimus LTE2 for its home market. The Optimus LTE2 sports a 4.5-inch IPS True HD 720p display which gives tough competition to the Super AMOLED HD screen found on the Galaxy S III.

Other features of the handset include a 2150mAh battery, induction charging, an 8MP camera, LTE network support, and the other usual bunch of features. The handset also looks extremely simila to the Galaxy S II.

The main highlight of the Optimus LTE2 is that it sports a whopping 2GB of RAM. Yep ! 2 Gigabyte of Random Access Memory! The LTE2 is also the first ever mobile device to pack in such a huge amount of RAM.

While 2GB of RAM on a mobile is definitely nice, its usefulness in real life scenarios is totally questionable. LG did not mention anything about which SoC it has used inside the LTE2, but it should hopefully be the Qualcomm’s S4 processor coupled with an Adreno 225 GPU.

Earlier this week, we covered LG’s announcement that they will no longer be making Windows Phones. This should come as no surprise; not only is Windows Phone still an underdog platform, but on top of this, LG makes terrible phones. The people who do explore the platform — and also the salespeople that enlighten the more non-technical bunch about it — deviate more towards Nokia, HTC, and Samsung devices. That being said, before reaching this decision, it appears that LG was toying with the idea of producing a newer Windows Phone device.

WPCentral has gotten its hands on the aptly named LG Fantasy, a prototype Windows Phone device. The prototype, concocted by the company back in 2011 seems to have been a mid-range (or upper low-end) offering from the company; although it does have 512MB of RAM, it lacked in other areas.

It was made of plastic and felt cheap, and also extremely light due to the materials used to produce the device. However, harshness aside, it is a prototype, so it can’t necessarily be judged on the hardware front. One noteworthy tidbit about the device is that it does have fully-functional NFC hardware.

But, all in all, it’s a pretty lackluster and boring device. I can’t say that I’m going to lose any sleep over LG’s decision.

We already know that in spite of pretty favorable reviews, Windows Phone devices haven’t been selling all that well. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak recently showered Windows Phone with praises for its beautifully designed and engaging interface. Unfortunately, most consumers are yet to share his enthusiasm. Windows Phone currently has less than a tenth of Android’s market share, and the jury is still out on the success of its poster boy – the Lumia 900. Last year was a pretty tough one for most mobile handset manufacturers. Barring Apple and Samsung, pretty much everyone else had reasons to worry. Nokia was probably the one hardest hit. The once market leader is now in a battle for survival having put all its chips on Microsoft’s mobile operating system (OS). However, another struggling manufacturer has decided to cut its losses and move away from the platform.

LG has announced that going forward it will be focusing its efforts on Android handsets, which were largely responsible for the Korean giant turning in a profit after spending seven straight quarters in the red. LG believes that “the total unit of Windows Phone sold in the global market is not a meaningful figure”. As a result, it will not be releasing any new Windows Phone devices in the near future. It will, however, continue research and development efforts on Microsoft’s OS.

To be honest, LG’s Windows Phone offerings have been pretty mundane, and it’s not surprising that they failed to gain any real traction. This decision also makes sense for LG financially, as it will allow them to innovate more in Android handsets, which are its best bet for regaining market share. However, LG’s departure is also sad, as it will only make things tougher for a platform that truly deserves to succeed.

LG recently announced the new LG Optimus True HD LTE smartphone for the European and Asian markets. This handset is already available in the US and Canada as the LG Nitro HD and LG Optimus LTE respectively. This handset was announced last year in the US, exclusively for the AT&T subscribers. Now, the folks living in Germany, Portugal, Sweden, Hong Kong and Singapore can finally get their hands on this powerful device.

“The mobile industry is evolving around LTE technology which has demonstrated its capability when it comes to speed, efficiency and reliability,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “With the Optimus True HD LTE, we want customers to understand that LTE isn’t just about the network and that all LTE phones are not alike.”

The LG Optimus True HD LTE will ship with the old Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) Operating System. However, the latest Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) update for this device is already on its way. The company has not yet announced the availability of this device. The price of LG Optimus True HD LTE is still a mystery. Stay tuned for more updates.

Last year, T-Mobile announced the LG G2X smartphone at the CTIA 2011. It is basically the T-Mobile’s version of the popular LG Optimus 2X. This handset originally runs on the Android 2.2 (Froyo) OS. However, the device was later updated to the Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) OS in July 2011. Sadly, the update was pulled, added back and then pulled again.

Now, T-Mobile is rolling out a new update for the LG G2X smartphone. The latest update bumps the LG G2X to Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) Operating System. This update will be available automatically via OTA (Over-The-Air) or you can even manually update it via LG’s website. It comes with Wi-Fi calling improvements, boot up fixes and more. Check out the complete changelog below.

Changelog:

Random reboot/power off fixed

Device stability improvements

Wi-Fi calling improvements

Boot up fixes

The latest update is numbered P999-V21y and it can be easily downloaded via OTA (Over-The-Air) until May 14, 2012. After that, you can just head over to the LG’s website to manually update your smartphone. The size of the update is just 30.5 MB. If you do not get this update on your smartphone, then just go to Home > Applications > Settings > About Device > System updates and check for the update.

It is advised to backup all you data before updating the device. You should also make sure that your battery is fully charged, before updating the device. If you find any new features after updating your device, then do let us know in the comments section below. To learn more, head over to this page.

Earlier this year, LG launched the amazing LG Spectrum at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2012 in Las Vegas. It is the company’s second smartphone with 4G LTE capabilities. This handset is exclusively available for the Verizon Wireless subscribers in the US. The LG Spectrum originally runs on the old Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) Operating System. However, Verizon has already announced its Android 4.0 update plans for a number of smartphones including the LG Spectrum.

Verizon will soon roll out a new software update for the LG Spectrum. No, this is not the Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) update for which you have been waiting for months. However this update comes with many fixes and improvements. It also bring the updated version of the apps including the NFL, VZ Navigator, Amazon Kindle, My Verizon and more. Check out the complete specs after the break.

Google Search is now set as default search for a better user experience.

Applications & Widgets:

Google GMS (Google Mobile Services) is upgraded to Gingerbread R9.

Updated Google Play (v3.3.12) with enhanced user experiences.

Updated Gmail (v2.3.5.2) with a series of security fixes.

Talk2 (v1.3) includes updated video chat capabilities.

Updated YouTube (v2.3.4) includes enhanced editing functionality.

Visual Voice Mail connection has been updated for a better user experience when syncing email.

Updated Apps:

NFL v4.0

VZ Navigator (v7.5.1.54)

Amazon Kindle (v3.3.2.3)

SmartShare (R2.0)

Verizon Video (v6.1.34)

My Verizon (v10.0.7)

V CAST Apps (v3.03.41)

The latest update is numbered VS920ZV5 and it bumps the LG Spectrum to Android 2.3.6 (Gingerbread) Operating System. This update can be easily downloaded via OTA (Over-The-Air). Verizon will roll out this update within a few days. If you do not get this update on your smartphone, then just go to Home > Applications > Settings > About Device > System updates and check for the update. To learn more, head over to this page or check out this PDF file.

After a lot of leaks and rumors, LG and Verizon have finally unveiled a budget Android handset, the LG Lucid. The handset will cost users $80 on a two-year contract with Verizon. However, the low price of the handset does not mean that LG have skimped on the internal hardware of the handset.

The Lucid packs a 1.2GHz dual-core processor (!), 1GB of RAM, a front-facing camera, and a 4-inch WVGA (480×800) resolution display protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass. The handset also sports all the connectivity features, including support for Verizon’s blazing fast 4G LTE network. Yes, the Lucid costs less than half of the previous generation Android handsets, and sports specs similar to them. On paper, the Lucid is one of the most impressive ‘mid-range’ Android handset announced this year.

The handset runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, but LG has assured that they will be updating the handset to Ice Cream Sandwich before the end of this year. The LG Lucid will hit the big red’s network on March 29th, and as stated earlier will cost $80 on a two-year contract, with a $50 mail-in rebate.

LG recently announced a new entry-level phone in its popular Rumor family of handsets, the LG Rumor Reflex. This handset will be available for customers of Sprint and Boost Mobile. LG Rumor Reflex is basically a feature phone with 3 inch touchscreen display and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

This handset is the successor of the popular LG Rumor Touch phone. LG Rumor Reflex is the fifth device from Sprint with eco-friendly attributes and the second from Boost Mobile. The phone’s outer cover is constructed of 31 percent post-consumer recycled materials by weight as defined by UL Environment. The Lg Rumor Reflex is also a Carbon-Free certified device.

“LG is committed to being a leader of change in the mobile industry and is continually working to find new ways to weave recyclable alternatives throughout our product lineup,” said Tim O’Brien, vice president of LG Mobile. “We are proud of our continued collaboration with Sprint to develop budget-friendly and environmentally conscious devices that don’t compromise function or design.”

This handset measures 4.2 x 2.1 x 0.6 inches and weighs 4.7 oz. Sprint customers can get this handset for $29.99 with a two year service agreement and $50 mail-in rebate. On the other hand, Boost Mobile subscribers can get this device for just $79.99 without any contract. LG Rumor Reflex will be available along with the recently announced ZTE Fury from Sunday, March 11.

Despite a recent rumor that LG was working on a new Windows Phone — the LG Miracle — it turns out that the company will be exclusively debuting Android handsets at this year’s Mobile World Congress.

Speaking to All Things Digital, LG smartphone unit leader Ramchan Woo mentioned that LG has been experiencing “slower-than-hoped-for” sales of Windows Phone devices. He also noted that the demand for Windows Phones from carriers largely varied; some carriers wanted devices to balance out their Android offerings, while others were still struggling to sell Windows Phone devices.

“Some operators, they ask (for) Windows Phone to balance Android; however, the others, they are (still) figuring out how to sell Windows,” Woo said.

This doesn’t mean the rumored LG Miracle — which allegedly boasts a NOVA 4″ WVGA display, a 720p 4MP camera, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 8GB of storage, and possibly NFC — will not come to fruition at all. This just means that LG has nothing to share about future Windows Phone handsets at MWC.

Another possibility here is that LG is waiting for the next major Windows Phone update, Apollo, to touch down later this year before launching any serious handsets that run the Windows Phone OS.

Building Google branded Nexus smartphones has always been an honor reserved for the top Android device manufacturers. The Nexus One was made by HTC, while the Nexus S and the more recent Galaxy Nexus were made by Samsung. Each Nexus device is usually among the first to get an upgrade to the latest version of Android.

Apparently, LG is in talks with Google and wants to build the next Nexus device. Such a deal could propel it directly into the big leagues, but is very unlikely considering that LG hasn’t yet launched a truly excellent Android smartphone which could compete with the flagship offerings from Samsung, or even HTC and Motorola.

The next Nexus smartphone will run Android 5.0 Jelly Bean (or whatever the next version of Android is going to be named). If I had to bet on who had the best chance of making the device, I would bet on either Samsung or Motorola, given that Samsung is currently the number one Android device manufacturer and Motorola is now owned by Google.

Google is apparently planning to launch a budget Nexus tablet too, to compete with the Kindle Fire and more importantly, the iPad. However, that device is reported to be in the late stages of development already, so it is unlikely the Nexus device that LG is taking about.

To LG’s credit, it recently unveiled some impressive devices like the LG Optimus 4X HD and the Optimus 3D Max at MWC 2012. If those devices prove to be a success, LG might have a good shot after all.